אֶֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ בְּאַפִּ֔י וְאֶקַּ֖ח בְּעֶבְרָתִֽי׃ ס
I gave you a king in My anger, and I took him away in My wrath.
Morphology
- אֶתֶּן (etten) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I gave”; Notes: The imperfect here conveys a completed past action with lasting implication—YHWH’s granting of a king as an act of anger rather than blessing (cf. Shaʾul).
- לְךָ (lekha) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2ms; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel collectively—indicating direct divine address to the nation.
- מֶלֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a king”; Notes: Refers to the institution of monarchy granted as a concession to human desire, not divine approval.
- בְּאַפִּי (be-api) – Root: אף (ʾaf); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “in My anger”; Notes: Anthropomorphic expression for divine displeasure—anger expressed in judgment and discipline.
- וְאֶקַּח (ve-eqqaḥ) – Root: לקח (laqakh); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I took away”; Notes: Refers to divine removal of the same monarchy, symbolizing judgment through loss of leadership.
- בְּעֶבְרָתִי (be-ʿevrati) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “in My wrath”; Notes: Parallel to “in My anger”—expresses intensification of divine fury, culminating in the destruction or exile of Yisraʾel’s kingship.